LVN Learning Institute Blog

Virginia LPN License Renewal: Do You Need 15 or 30 CE Hours?

virginia ceu requirements Oct 02, 2026

Virginia LPN license renewal: 15 or 30 CE hours?

If your Virginia LPN license is coming up for renewal, you've probably wondered: do I need 15 CE hours or 30?

The answer depends on how much you've worked. Virginia lets LPNs meet the renewal requirement with 15 contact hours of continuing education plus 640 hours of active nursing practice. If you don't have the practice hours, the CE route is 30 contact hours instead.

This guide explains Virginia LPN license renewal in plain language: what the Board of Nursing requires, how to tell if you qualify for the 15-hour option, and how to renew step by step.

Quick Answer: How Many CE Hours Does a Virginia LPN Need?

To renew an active Virginia LPN license, you must complete one of nine "continued competency" options set by the Virginia Board of Nursing. For most working LPNs, it comes down to two choices:

15 contact hours of nursing continuing education plus 640 hours of active practice as a nurse, or
30 contact hours of nursing continuing education.

If you worked at least 640 hours as a nurse in the two years before your renewal date, 15 contact hours is enough. If you didn't, or you can't document those hours, plan on 30.

Virginia LPN License Renewal at a Glance

How often: Every two years.
Deadline: The last day of your birth month. If you were born in an even-numbered year, you renew in even-numbered years. If you were born in an odd-numbered year, you renew in odd-numbered years.
Renewal fee: $120, plus $40 if you renew late.
Renewal notice: Sent about 45 to 60 days before your license expires, with a PIN for online renewal.
Where to renew: Online through the Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP), with a credit or debit card.
Proof of CE: You don't upload certificates when you renew, but you must keep them in case you're audited.

Fees are from the Virginia Board of Nursing's fee schedule as of September 2026.

Virginia's 9 Continued Competency Options (You Only Need One)

Virginia calls its renewal requirement "continued competency." You must fully complete at least one of these options during each renewal cycle:

Current specialty certification from a national certifying organization
At least 3 credit hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing, from a regionally accredited college or university
A Board-approved nursing refresher course
A nursing-related evidence-based practice project or research study
Publishing as an author or co-author during the renewal cycle
Teaching or developing a nursing course worth at least 3 semester hours of college credit, a 15-week course, or specialty certification
Teaching or developing nursing continuing education courses for up to 30 contact hours
15 contact hours of nursing CE plus 640 hours of active practice as a nurse
30 contact hours of nursing CE

Most working LPNs choose option 8 or option 9. Just remember that you can't mix and match. The Board requires you to complete one option fully, so 10 CE hours plus 800 practice hours won't meet either option.

The 15-Hour Option: 15 Contact Hours + 640 Hours of Active Practice

This option is built for LPNs who are working. Here's what to know before you choose it.

What does 640 hours look like?

Over a two-year renewal cycle, 640 hours works out to about:

80 eight-hour shifts
54 twelve-hour shifts
A little over 6 hours a week

If you've worked part-time or more for most of your renewal cycle, you may already be there.

What counts as active practice?

Virginia defines active practice as work, paid or unpaid, that requires an active nursing license. The Board's FAQ confirms that faculty hours and non-hands-on clinical hours count. Volunteer nursing counts too, as long as the work requires your nursing license.

When do the hours have to happen?

Your 15 contact hours and your 640 practice hours should both fall within the two years before your renewal date. Extra CE hours don't roll over to your next renewal.

How do you prove your 640 hours?

You don't send proof when you renew. If the Board audits you, you'll need documentation that shows:

Your name
The number of hours you worked in each calendar or fiscal year
Your employer's name and address
Your supervisor's signature

Self-employed nurses can use tax or business records. For volunteer work, the organization you served can verify your hours.

Quick self-check: Is the 15-hour option right for you?

The 15-hour option is likely a good fit if you can answer yes to all three questions:

Did I work at least 640 hours as a nurse in the two years before my renewal date?
Can I get proof of those hours from my employer (or tax or volunteer records) if I'm audited?
Will my 15 contact hours come from an approved provider and be finished within this renewal cycle?

If you're unsure about any of them, the 30-hour option is the safer choice.

15 Hours or 30 Hours: Which Should You Choose?

Choose the 15-hour option if:

You've worked steadily as a nurse during your renewal cycle
Your employer can verify your hours
You want to finish your CE faster

Choose the 30-hour option if:

You've been on leave, between jobs, or picking up only occasional PRN shifts
You're not sure you'll reach 640 hours by your renewal date
You'd rather not rely on employment records if you're audited

At LVN Learning Institute, the Virginia 15-Hour CE Bundle is $24.99 and the Virginia 30-Hour CE Bundle is $29.99. If you're unsure about your practice hours, the 30-hour bundle covers you either way for just $5 more.

What CE Courses Count for Virginia LPN Renewal?

For the 15-hour and 30-hour options, every course must meet two rules:

It must be relevant to the practice of nursing.
It must come from a provider recognized or approved by an organization on Virginia's list. The list includes the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, state nurses associations, the National League for Nursing, NAPNES, NFLPN, licensed health care facilities, accredited colleges and universities, government agencies, and "the Virginia Board of Nursing or any state board of nursing."

A few more things to know:

Online courses are accepted. The Board says its regulations don't specify how CE is delivered, so online and webinar courses count if they meet the rules above.
There are no required topics. Virginia's rule doesn't name mandatory courses for LPNs. Courses just need to relate to nursing practice.
Some courses don't count. The Board lists basic life support (BLS), CPR, and non-nursing courses as examples of credit it won't accept.
The Board doesn't pre-approve courses. Check the provider's approval instead.
A contact hour is 50 minutes of coursework under Virginia's rules.

Where LVN Learning Institute fits: LVN Learning Institute is a California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) approved Continuing Education Provider, CEP #15135. Virginia's rule accepts courses from providers approved by any state board of nursing.

How to Renew Your Virginia LPN License, Step by Step

Check your expiration date. Look up your license on the DHP License Lookup to confirm your renewal month and year.
Choose your continued competency option. For most LPNs, that's 15 CE hours plus 640 practice hours, or 30 CE hours.
Finish your CE before your deadline. Save each certificate as soon as you complete a course.
Watch for your renewal notice. It arrives about 45 to 60 days before your license expires and includes your online renewal PIN.
Renew online. Go to DHP Online Licensing with your license number, your username and password (or PIN), and your card ready.
Pay the $120 fee and attest. You'll confirm that you met the continued competency requirement. You don't upload certificates.
Keep your records. Hold on to your documentation for at least two years after you renew.

Didn't get a renewal notice? You're still responsible for renewing on time. DHP's Online Licensing page explains how to request a new PIN.

Record-Keeping and Audits: What to Save

Virginia doesn't ask for CE certificates when you renew, but the Board can request proof later. Under the rules, you must keep your original documentation for two years after renewal and send it within 30 days if the Board asks.

Each CE certificate should show:

Your name
The course title
The provider's name
The number of contact hours
The date you completed it

Easy habit: Create a "License Renewal" folder in your email or cloud storage. Save each certificate the moment you finish a course. LVN Learning Institute certificates are available instantly when you complete a course, so you can file them right away.

Common Virginia LPN Renewal Mistakes to Avoid

Taking CE outside your renewal cycle. Hours must be earned during the current cycle, and extras don't carry over.
Counting CPR or BLS. The Board doesn't accept them toward the CE requirement.
Mixing options. Partial hours from two options don't add up to one complete option.
Assuming you hit 640 hours. If you're close, confirm your hours with your employer before choosing the 15-hour option.
Waiting on the renewal notice. Not receiving it doesn't extend your deadline. Your license lapses automatically if you don't renew on time, and practicing on a lapsed license is illegal in Virginia.
Buying from an unapproved provider. Check who approved the courses before you pay.

Special Situations: First Renewal, Extensions, and More

First renewal: If you're renewing for the first time after being licensed by exam or endorsement, you're exempt from the continued competency requirement.
Extensions: The Board may grant up to one year for good cause if you request it in writing 60 days before your renewal date. You still have to complete the requirement.
Exemptions: The Board may excuse all or part of the requirement for circumstances beyond your control, such as a temporary disability, mandatory military service, or an officially declared disaster.
Inactive licenses: The continued competency requirement applies only to active licenses.
RN and LPN licenses: If you hold both, you only need to meet one continued competency requirement.

Finish Your 15 Hours Online with LVN Learning Institute

If you qualify for the 15 contact hours plus 640 practice hours option, the Virginia LPN 15-Hour CE Bundle was built for you:

15 contact hours for Virginia LPN license renewal
Self-paced online courses you can take on any device
No tests
Instant certificates upon completion
One-time payment of $24.99, with no subscription

LVN Learning Institute's courses are developed by an experienced nurse educator. Founder Natasha Prunty, MHA, NHA, RCFE, LVN, DSD, IP, brings more than 23 years of experience in nursing, staff development, infection prevention, and long-term care leadership.

Get the Virginia LPN 15-Hour CE Bundle →

Not sure you'll reach 640 hours? See the Virginia 30-Hour CE Bundle ($29.99) →

Curious why we don't sell subscriptions? Read Why Pay-Per-Course Beats a Subscription for Your LVN CEUs.

Virginia LPN License Renewal FAQs

Do Virginia LPNs need CEUs to renew their license?

Yes, in most cases: to renew an active license, Virginia LPNs must complete one continued competency option each renewal cycle. Most choose continuing education, either 15 contact hours plus 640 practice hours or 30 contact hours. The first renewal after initial licensure is exempt.

Can I complete all of my Virginia LPN CE online?

Yes. The Virginia Board of Nursing says its regulations don't specify how CE is delivered. Online courses are accepted if they relate to nursing and come from an approved provider.

How much does it cost to renew an LPN license in Virginia?

The renewal fee for an active LPN license is $120 every two years. Renewing late adds a $40 late fee.

Do I have to send my CE certificates when I renew?

No. You attest that you met the requirement when you renew. Keep your certificates for at least two years after renewal, and send them within 30 days if the Board asks.

Can extra CE hours carry over to my next renewal?

No. The Board requires hours to be earned during the current renewal cycle, so extra hours don't roll over.

Does volunteer nursing count toward the 640 hours?

It can. Active practice includes paid or unpaid work that requires an active nursing license. The organization you volunteered for can verify your hours if you're audited.

What happens if I miss my renewal deadline?

Your license lapses automatically, and you can't legally practice until it's reinstated. Within one renewal period, you can reinstate by paying the renewal fee plus the late fee and attesting to a completed continued competency option from the past two years. After that, you'll need a reinstatement application and fee, proof of continued competency, and a criminal background check.

I'm a new LPN. Do I need CE for my first renewal?

No. Virginia exempts nurses from the continued competency requirement for their first renewal after initial licensure by exam or endorsement.

Renew with Confidence

Keeping your Virginia LPN license active doesn't have to be stressful. Confirm your renewal date, pick the option that fits your work history, finish your hours early, and save every certificate.

If you've worked 640 hours this cycle, 15 contact hours is all the CE you need. You can complete them online, at your own pace.

Start the Virginia LPN 15-Hour CE Bundle →

Sources

This article is for general information and reflects Virginia Board of Nursing rules as of September 2026. Requirements can change, so confirm the current rules with the Virginia Board of Nursing before you renew.